Suspended pedestal desk

ABSTRACT

A desk in which drawer units are suspended at the rear from the desk top by means of a hanger on the rear of the drawer unit which engages a rail assembly depending downwardly from the rear of the desk top. At the front, the pedestal is bolted to the desk top by bolts passing through resiliently compressible spacer washers and into the top. The top can be tilted and the rail assembly includes both top and bottom rails. The hanger hangs in the top rail when the desk top is level and in the bottom rail when the desk top is tilted. In this way, the drawer unit is generally horizontal regardless of the orientation of the top.

United States Patent 11 1 Korell et a1.

1 1 Jan. 28, 1975 1 1 SUSPENDED PEDESTAL DESK [75] Inventors: Donald D.Korell. Grand Rapids;

Gale F. Wilcox, Wayland, both of Mich.

[52] US. Cl. 312/194 [51] Int. Cl A47b 17/00 [58] Field of Search312/194, 195, 196, 197,

[56] I References Cited 9 2.915.351 12/1957 Shina 312/195 3,346,31110/1967 Bears i 1 312/195 3,565,502 2/1971 Bracy ct a1 1 312/195 Primarylzlrumirrvr-Paul R. Gilliam Aazvivrun! [:Irumimn-David H. (orhinAttorney, Agent. or Firm-Price. Henevcld. Huizcnga & Cooper I 57ABSTRACT A desk in which drawer units are suspended at the rear from thedesk top by means of a hanger on the rear of the drawer unit whichengages a rail assembly depending downwardly from the rear of the desktop. At the front, the pedestal is bolted to the desk top by boltspassing through resiliently compressible spacer washers and into thetop. The top can be tilted and the rail assembly includes both top andbottom rails. The hanger hangs in the top rail when the desk top islevel and in the bottom rail when the desk top is tilted. In this way,the drawer unit is generally horizontal regardless of the orientation ofthe top.

25 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENIED JAN28 I975 WWW PATENTEDJANZBIQYSSHEET 30F 5 PATENTED JANZB 5 FIG SUSPENDED PEDESTAL DESK BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION The present invention relates to furniture systems,particularly to modular office furniture in which a variety of differenttype desks, credenzas and the like can be manufactured from certainbasic components.

Many manufacturers offer desks with different pedestal or drawer unit,options. Typically, alternate types of pedestal units can be connectedeither to the desk top or to the desk frame. The mounting arrangementsprovided for such constructions are quite complicated.

In some such constructions, the alternative pedestals are suspended fromthe desk top. In one, the suspended pedestal can be rolled along tracksto different locations but can be selectively locked against movementwhere desired. However, the roller-track assembly and the lockingmechanismsinvolved are undesirably complicated.

Another drawback to such desk systems is that they are limited inflexibility to a particular type of desk. The only options available arefor different types of pedestals. The need for greater flexibility insuch systerns has always been pressing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention not only provides arevolutionary means for suspending cabinet units from a top, but alsoincreases the flexibility of an article of furniture, such as a desk orthe like, by providing a tiltable top and means for suspending cabinetsor other components from the top whether the top is in its horizontal ortilted position. The pedestal or other component includes a hangergenerally at the rear thereof which engages either a top rail or abottom rail positioned beneath the desk top. At the front, the pedestalis connected to the front of the top. If the tiltable top is tilted, thehanger of the pedestal or other component is hung in the lower rail. Ifthe top is level, the hanger is hung in the top rail. As a result, thepedestal component maintains a generally horizontal orientationregardless of the orientation of the top.

To facilitate mounting of the pedestal component, the hanger slidablyengages the rail. The hanger has a configuration such that when thepedestal component is first hung on the rail during installation, it istilted forwardly and downwardly. In this position, it can readily beslid along the rail until properly positioned. Once it is positioned,the front of the pedestal is lifted upwardly and moved toward the rearof the desk and is secured to the front of the desk top by means of thesecuring means referred to above. The rail and the pedestal componentinclude engageable locking means which engage when the front of thecomponent is so raised. In this manner, the pedestal component is lockedagainst the sliding movement when the front thereof is properly securedto the desk top. The pedestal component is readily slidable on the railduring positioning thereof, but can be locked against movement withrespect to the rail after proper positioning and final assembly havebeen achieved.

To insure a proper flt between the pedestal component and the front ofthe desk top, even when the desk top is tilted, a resilientlycompressible spacer is positioned between the pedestal component and thetop. Fastening means generally at the front of the pedestal componentare used to join the component to the top and are tightened down untilthe resiliently compressible spacer means is slightly compressed.Preferably, the spacer means comprises two spaced resilientlycompressible spacers. A separate fastener is associated with each, andeach fastener is individually progressively tightenable. In this manner,the spacers can be differentially compressed and the pedestal componentcan thereby be properly vertically aligned with respect to adjacentcomponents or the like.

These and otheraspects, objects and advantages of the invention will bemore fully understood and appre ciated by reference to the writtenspecification and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thedesk;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along plane II--II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the same plane as is FIG.2, only the top of the desk is shown in its tilted position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the hanger rail assemy;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of the drawer componenthanger;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the hanger hung on one of therails during positioning of the component;

FIG. 7 is the same view as FIG. 6 with the component having been securedto the desk top at the front thereof;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the pedestal component;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the front of the deskshowing the means whereby the component is joined to the desk top at thefront thereof;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of one side of thedesk;

FIG. 11 is an end elevational view of the top itself;

FIG. 12 is an elevational view of the end panel of the desk;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an insert which facilitates tiltableorientation of the desk top;

FIG.'l4 is a fragmentary perspective end view of a corner of the desk;and

FIG. 15 is the same view as that shown in FIG. 14

with the insert of FIG. 13 being oriented in a different position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the preferred embodiment, thepedestals or drawer units 14 are suspended at the rear from the top 10of desk 1 by the interengagement of a hanger I20 and a rail assembly(FIGS. 1, 2 and 3). At its front, pedestal 14 is suspended by a pair ofbolts 14!, each passing through a resiliently compressible spacer andinto a beam 142 of top 10 (FIGS. 2, 3, 9 and 10). The interconnectionbetween the end panels 12 of desk 1 and top 10 can be adjusted so thattop 10 can be oriented either in a horizontal position (FIG. 2) or in atilted position (FIG. 3). Rail assembly 130 includes a top rail I31 anda bottom rail 132, and hanger 120 engages top rail 13] when top 10 ishorizontal and bottom rail 132 when top 10 is tilted. In this manner,pedestal I4 is generally horizontal regardless of the orientation of top10.

When pedestal 14 is first hooked over either top rail 131 or bottom rail132, it can be slid along the length thereof so long as it is tilteddownwardly slightly towards the front. In such orientation, hanger 120bears the relationship to rail 132, for example, shown in FIG. 6. Whenpedestal 14 is in this hanging position, tilted forwardly slightly, arubber bumper 14c bears against the desk back panel 18. Rubber bumper14c is mounted on a spacer bracket 146 which projects rearwardly fromthe back panel 14a of pedestal 14. Once pedestal 14 is properlypositioned, its front is brought up and is secured to beam 142 of top10. This causes a projecting detent tab 125 on hanger 120 to engage akeeper slot 138 on rail 131 (FIG. 7).

Top 10 is made of wood or metal. Beam 142 is formed of metal and isbolted to top 10. Mounting brackets 150 are bolted to the ends of top 10and provide a securing means facilitating securance of top 10 to endpanels 12.

Hanger 120 at the rear of pedestal 14 is formed of metal by bending orthe like and is secured to pedestal 14 by welding (FIGS. 2, 3 and Hanger120 includes a mounting flange 121 which is welded to pedestal 14.Projecting upwardly therefrom is a leg 122 which is joined to arearwardly projecting wall 123. Wall 123 is bent over at its end todefine a downwardly projecting lip 124. Wall 123 and lip 124 hook over aparticular rail or rail assembly 130 and provide the actual railengaging surfaces.

Projecting rearwardly further, beyond lip 124, generally at each end ofhanger 120 is a detent tab 125 (FIGS. 5, 6 and 7). These detent tabs 125engage keeper slots 138 in rail assembly 130 to lock pedestal 14 inposition.

Rail assembly 130 is also formed of metal and includes a top rail 131and bottom rail 132 (FIG. 4). Assembly 130 is bent to define a mountingflange 133 which is secured by welding, bolting or the like on theunderside of top (FIGS. 2 and 3). Projecting downwardly therefrom is aback wall 134 (FIG. 4). It is bent at its bottom to define a bottom wall135 projecting towards pedestal 14. Bottom wall 135 is bent upwardly atits end to define an upwardly projecting hook wall 136. Back wall 134,bottom wall 135 and hook wall 136 define lower rail 132. Bottom rail 132is oriented at slightly less than 90 with respect to back wall 134(FIGS. 6 and 7) so that when top 10 is tilted as shown in FIG. 3, bottomrail 132 will be oriented generally horizontally for better cooperationwith hanger 120. Top rail 131 also includes a bottom wall 135, a backwall 134 and an upwardly projecting hook wall 136. However, bottom wall135 and hook wall 136 of top rail 131 are formed by a generally Z-shapedbracket which includes a mounting flange 137 which is welded to backwall 134 at a point between top mounting flange 133 and bottom rail 132.For functional purposes, however, top rail 131 and bottom rail 132 areidentical in construction.

Adjacent each of the top and bottom rails 131 and 132 are a plurality ofspaced keeper slots 138. These are cut through back wall-134. They arearranged in spaced pairs, each pair being spaced apart a distanceapproximately equal to the spacing between the detent tabs 125 on hanger120. Each pair of slots 138 is arranged along its particular rail inlocations at which it would be desirable to position a pedestal 14. Inthe desk shown in FIG. 1, pedestals are positioned at each end thereof.However, there are appropriate slots 138 for hanging two additionalpedestals, or one large center pedestal, thereby coverting desk 1 to acredenza unit.

Each detent tab 125 of hanger 120 is sufficiently short that whenpedestal 14 hangs on a rail 131 or 132, with the front of the pedestalbeing unsecured, the detent tab 125 will not hit against back wall 134or engage a slot 138 (FIG. 6). Preferably, detent tab 125 is a littleshorter in length than thedepth of bottom wall 135 from hook wall 136 toback wall 134. This insures that tag 125 will not hang up on back wall134 as pedestal 14 is being slid along rail 130. Yet, when the front ofpedestal 14 is lifted upwardly, pushed rearwardly slightly and properlysecured to beam 142 of top 10, detent tab 125 will slip through areceiving keeper slot 138 and will lock pedestal 14 against movementwith respect to rail assembly 130 (FIG. 7).

Spacers 140 are positioned at the top front of pedestal 14, generallytowards either side thereof (FIG. 8). Each spacer 140 is a resilientlycompressible washer made of rubber or the like. The front of pedestal 14is secured to top 10 by passing a bolt 141 through the top wall ofpedestal 14, through the hole in spacer 140 and into a receivingthreaded aperture in beam 142 (FIG. 9). There is a separate bolt 141associated with each spacer 140. This makes it possible to use bolts 141and spacers 140 to insure proper vertical orientation of pedestal 14with respect to adjacent components or end panel 12. In FIG. 10, forexample, a desk is shown in which misalignment between beam 142 and endpanel 12 has been exaggerated slightly. In order to compensate for themisalignment, the bolt 14] on the right-hand side has been tighteneddown more securely than the bolt on the left-hand side. Because spacers140 are readily compressible, they easily compensate for thedifferential tightening of the bolts 141 and insure a secure,rattle-free fit between pedestal 14 and beam 142. Yet, the differentialtightening of the bolts has made it possible to eliminate any unsightlygaps which might otherwise have existed between the sidewall of pedestall4 and the inside wall of end panel 12. Any horizontal misalignmentbetween the top of pedestal l4 and the bottom of beam 142 will not benoticed because the width of pedestal 14 is shorter than its height andbecause, in the preferred embodiment, there is a slight gap foraesthetic reasons at this point anyway.

Spacers also insure that there will be a tight fit between pedestal 14and beam 142 no matter what the angular orientation of top 10. Eachspacer 140 differentially compresses from front to rear to compensatefor the angle which exists between top 10 and pedestal 14 when top 10 isoriented at an angle (FIG. 9). Thus, spacers 140 serve two functionswith respect to insuring a snug fit between the front of pedestal 14 andthe front of top 10.

Beam 142 serves not only as a support for the front of pedestals 14, butalso as a reinforcement for top 10. Also, it houses a locking assemblywhich is more fully described in copending patent application Ser. No.366,161, entitled DESK LOCK SYSTEM, filed on even date herewith byDonald D. Korell and assigned to the same assignee of this application,which is specifically incorporated herein by reference.

Top 10 is secured to and supported by end panels 12 by a plurality ofbolts passing through end panel 12 and being threaded in threadedapertures 151 in top mounting brackets 150 (FIG. 11). Mounting brackets150 are themselves bolted to each end of end panel by bolts 152, thisspecific construction being more fully set forth in a copendingapplication entitled TILTABLE DESK TOP," Ser. No. 366,161, thespecification of which is incorporated herein by reference, filed oneven date herewith by Donald Korell and assigned to the assignee of thisinvention. By selecting different ones of the threaded apertures 151 inwhich to secure the fastening bolts, one can position top 10 atdifferent levels or one can orient top 10 at an angle. Angularorientation would be achieved by using the bottom aper ture 151 in theright-hand bracket 150, the middle aperture 151 in the middle bracket150 and the top aperture 151 in the left-hand bracket 150, as viewed inFIG. 11.

The bolts which are threaded into apertures 151 pass through apertures52 in end panel 12 and through an insert 170 which is mounted in aninsert aperture 161 at the rear corner of end panel 12 (FIGS. 12 and13). Apertures 52 and 161 are accessible by removing a cover panel fromend panel 12. The construction of the cover panel is more fully setforth in a copending application entitled END PANEL SUPPORT SYSTEM, Ser.No. 366,218, the specification of which is incorporated herein byreference, filed on even date herewith by Ronald R. Hodges. Gale F.Wilcox, Robert G. Mohr and Douglas Scheerhorn and assigned to theassignee of the present application. I

The purpose of employing insert 170 in aperture 161, rather than simplyemploying another hole 52, is to insure proper alignment of the cornerof top 10 with the corner of end panels 12. Insert 170 includes aneccentrically located hole 171 which extends completely therethrough.I-Iole 171 specifically takes the place of a hole 52 in end panel 12.Insert 170 comprises a central plate 172 and boot-shaped projection 173projecting from each side thereof. Boot 173 is so called because it hasa toe 174 jutting out from one side thereof. Hole 171 passes completelythrough each boot 173 and central plate 172.

Aperture 161 in end panel 12 is shaped exactly like boot 173, exceptthat it includes a notch 162 projecting from each side thereof, atopposite corners thereof. Each notch 162 corresponds in configuration totoe 174. Insert 170 can be positioned in aperture 161 with toe 174either in the upper right-hand notch 162 (FIG. 14) or in the lowerleft-hand notch 162 (FIG. 15). In the former case, hole 171 will belocated in the upper left-hand corner of aperture 161 and in the lattercase, it will be located in the lower right-hand corner. In effect,insert 170 is used to shift the pivot point of top 10 when it is to beoriented at a tilted angle. When top 10 is to be level, insert 170 ispositioned as shown in FIG. 14. When top 10 is to be tilted, insert 170is oriented in the manner shown in FIG. 15. Insert 170 can readily beremoved and reoriented.

In operation, assuming the top is installed level, pedestal 14 isinstalled by hanging hanger 120 over top rail 131 of rail assembly 130(FIG. 2). Pedestal 14 will hang on top rail 131, its bottom restingagainst the back panel 18 of desk 1. In this position, hanger 120 willbe oriented with respect to rail assembly 130 in the manner shown inFIG. 6. Pedestal 14 is slid along the length of rail 131 until it islocated at a desired predetermined position. The front of pedestal 14 isbrought upwardly and pushed slightly rearwardly, thereby causing tab p125 to engage a keeper notch 138. This locks the rear of pedestal 14against motion with respect to rail assembly 130.

The front of pedestal 14 is then secured to the front of top 10 bythreading bolts 141 into threaded receiving apertures in beam 142 of top10. Proper vertical alignment of pedestal 14 with respect to adjacentcomponents is insured by differentially tightening the spaced bolts 141.

The manufacturer may want to sell the desk with a tilted top, or theuser may want to tilt the top after he has purchased the desk. To do so,he removes pedestal 14, removes the covers on end panel 12 and unfastensthe bolts which hold top 10in place. Insert 170 is reoriented so thathole 171 is in the lower right-hand corner of aperture 161 (FIG. 15) andtop 10 is rebolted such that a bolt passes through hole 171 and isthreaded into the bottom aperture 151 in the right-hand mounting bracket150 of top 10 (FIG. 11). A bolt passes through middle mounting hole 52and into middle aperture 151 in middle bracket 150 and a bolt is passedthrough the left-end hole 52 and into the top aperture 151 in theleft-hand mounting bracket 150.

With top 10 thus tilted, hanger of pedestal 1.4 is again hung on a rail,but this time on bottom rail 132 of rail assembly 130. It is slid alonguntil properly positioned, tilted upwardly at the front and secured tobeam 142 in the manner described above.

Because of the unique way in which pedestals 14 are installed, they canactually be installed by a single person; They will hang suspendedfromtheir supporting rail while the user or workman slides the pedestalalong the length of the rail until it is properly positioned. Oncepositioned, the user or worker can bolt the front of the pedestal inposition and in so doing, he will simultaneously lock the rear of thepedestal against movement.

The present invention also increases the flexibility of a modular desksystem by providing a means for suspending a pedestal from the desk topwhether it is in a tilted or in a horizontal position. Proper alignmentof the suspended pedestal is readily achieved by differentiallytightening the front bolts, thereby taking advantage of the fact thatthe spacers between the pedestal and the desk top 10 are readilyresiliently compressible.

Of course, it is understood that the above is merely a preferredembodiment of the invention and that various changes and alternationscan be made thereofwithout departing from its spirit and broaderaspects.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An article of furniture such as a desk, credenza or the likecomprising: a top; a top rail positioned underneath said top, generallyat the rear thereof; a component such as a pedestal or the like, saidcomponent including a hanger generally at the rear thereof; securingmeans generally at the front of said top and said component forsupporting said component at the front of said article of furniture;means attached to said top for adjusting the angle of orientation ofsaid top so that it slopes downwardly from rear to front; a lower raildepending downwardly from said top generally at the rear thereof; saidhanger releasably engaging one of said top rails and said lower railwhereby when said top is oriented generally horizontally, said componentis supported at its rear in said top rail and whereby when said top istilted, said hanger of said component can be removed from said top railand engaged in said lower rail, thereby maintaining said component in agenerally horizontal orientation while said top is tilted.

2. The article of furniture of claim 1 in which said hanger slidablyengages either of said rails when said component hangs on said rail,tilted slightly forwardly and downwardly, and can be slid along saidrail until said securing means are secured; engageable locking means oneach said rail and on said component, said locking means engaging whenthe front of said component is raised up and secured by said securingmeans whereby the rear of said component will be locked against slidingmovement with respect to either of said rails when said securing meansare secured.

3. The article of furniture of claim 2 in which said engageable lockingmeans comprises a detent on said hanger and a keeper on each said rail;said detent and said keeper being spaced sufficiently far apart thatthey do not engage when said component is tilted forwardly anddownwardly. l

4. The article of furniture of claim 3 in which said detent comprises atab projecting rearwardly from said hanger and said keeper comprises aslot in each said rail adapted to receive said tab.

5. The article of furniture of claim 4 in which said supporting meansinclude fastening means generally at the front of said component forjoining said component to said top and resiliently compressible spacermeans associated with said fastening means to insure a secure fitbetween said component and said top regardless of the angle oforientation of said top.

6. The article of furniture of claim 5 in which said spacer meanscomprises at least two spaced resiliently compressible spacers; saidfastening means comprising a separate progressive tightening fastenerassociated with each said spacer and securing said component to saidtop, each said fastener being individually progressively tightenablewhereby said spacers can be differentially compressed and said componentthereby properly vertically aligned with respect to adjacent top supportmeans, components or the like.

7. The article of furniture of claim 6 in which said progressivetightening fastening means comprise bolts; said spacers comprisingresiliently compressible washers, said bolts passing through saidcomponents, through said washers and into said top.

8. The article of furniture of claim 2 in which said rail is generallyJ-shaped in cross-section, having a back wall, a bottom wall and a hookwall projecting upwardly from said bottom wall; said hanger including arearwardly projecting wall and a downwardly projecting lip for engagingsaid hook wall of said rail when said component is being supported onlyon said rail; said engageable locking means comprising a detentprojecting rearwardly from said hanger beyond said lip toward said backwall of said rail and comprising a keeper on said back wall of said railfor receiving said detent; said detent and said keeper being spacedsufficiently far apart that they do not engage when said component istilted forwardly.

9. The article of furniture of claim 8 in which said detent comprises atab projecting rearwardly from said hanger and said keeper comprises aslot in said back wall of said rail adapted to receive said tab.

10. The article of furniture of claim 9 in which said tab is at least aslong as said bottom wall of said rail is deep whereby when the front of'said component is lifted upwardly for securing to said top by saidsecuring means, said tab will definitely be forced into its receivingslot.

11. The article of furniture of claim 8 in which said supporting meansinclude fastening means generally at the front of said component forjoining said component to said top and resiliently compressible spacermeans associated with said fastening means to insure a secure fitbetween said component and said top regardless of the angle oforientation of said top.

12. The article of furniture of claim 11 in which said spacer meanscomprises at least two spaced resiliently compressible spacers; saidfastening means comprising a separate progressive tightening fastenermeans associated with each said spacer and securing said component tosaid top, each of said fastener being individually progressivelytightenable whereby saidspacers can be differentially compressed andsaid component thereby properly vertically aligned with respect toadjacent top support means, components or the like.

13. The article of furniture of claim 1 in which said supporting meansinclude fastening means generally at the front of said component forjoining said component to said top and resiliently compressible spacermeans associated with said fastening means to insure a secure fitbetween said component and said top regardless of the angle oforientation of said top.

14. The article of furniture of claim 13 in which said spacer meanscomprises at least two spaced resiliently compressible spacers; saidfastening means comprising a separate progressive tightening fastenerassociated with each said spacer and securing said component to saidtop, each said fastener being individually progressively tightenablewhereby said spacers can be differentially compressed and said componentthereby properly vertically aligned with respect to adjacent top supportmeans, components or the like.

15. The article of furniture of claim 14 in which said progressivetightening fastening means comprise bolts; said spacers comprisingresiliently compressible washers, said bolts passing through saidcomponents, through said washers and into said top.

16. The article of furniture of claim 1 in which said lower rail is notparallel to said top rail but is oriented at an angle such that saidlower rail is generally horizontally oriented when said top is adjustedto slope downwardly from rear to front.

17. An article of furniture such as a desk, credenza or the likecomprising: a top; a rail positioned underneath said top generally atthe rear thereof; a component such as a pedestal or the like, saidcomponent including a hanger slidably engaging said rail when saidcomponent hangs on said rail tilted slightly forwardly and downwardly;securing means generally at the front 'of said top and said componentfor supporting said component at the front of said article of furniture,said component being oriented generally horizontally when said securingmeans is secured; engageable locking means on said rail and on saidcomponent, said locking means engaging when the front of said componentis raised up and secured by said securing means to said top, whereby therear of said component is locked against sliding movement with respectto said rail and said locking means being configured to disengage whensaid component hangs on said rail tilted slightly forwardly anddownwardly whereby said component can be slid along said rail.

18. The article of furniture of claim 17 in which said engageablelocking means comprises a detent on said hanger and a keeper on eachsaid rail; said detent and said keeper being spaced sufficiently farapart that they do not engage when said component is tilted forwardlyand downwardly.

19. The article of furniture of claim 18 in which said detent comprisesa tab projecting rearwardly from said hanger and said keeper comprises aslot in each said rail adapted to receive said tab.

20. The article of furniture of claim 17 in which said rail is generally.l-shaped in cross-section, having a back wall, a bottom wall and a hookwall projecting upwardly from said bottom wall; said hanger including arearwardly projecting wall and a downwardly projecting lip for engagingsaid hook wall of said rail when said component is being supported onlyon said rail; said engageable locking means comprising a detentprojecting rearwardly from said hanger beyond said lip towards said backwall of said rail and comprising a keeper on said back wall of said railfor receiving said detent; said detent and said keeper being spacedsufficiently far apart that they do not engage when said component istilted forwardly and downwardly.

21. The article of furniture of claim 20 in which said detent comprisesa tab projecting rearwardly from said hanger and said keeper comprises aslot in said back wall of said rail adapted to receive said tab.

22. The article of furniture of claim 21 in which said tab is at leastas long as said bottom wall of said rail is deep whereby when the frontof said component is lifted upwardly for securing to said top by saidsecuring means, said tab will definitely be forced into its receivingslot.

23. An article of furniture such as a desk, credenza or the likecomprising: a top; top supporting means; a component such as a pedestalor the like suspended from said top; at least two spaced resilientlycompressible spacers positioned generally at the front of saidcomponent, between said component and said top; a separate progressivetightening fastener operably associated with each said spacer andextending from said component to said top to secure said component tosaid top, each said fastener being individually progressivelytightenable in securing said component to said top whereby said spacerscan be differentially compressed and said components thereby properlyvertically aligned with respect to adjacent top supporting means.components or the like.

24. The article of furniture of claim 23 in which said fasteners eachcomprise a threaded bolt and in which each said resiliently compressiblespacer is a resiliently compressible washer having an aperturetherethrough, said bolts passing through said component, through saidwashers and into said top.

25. The article of furniture of claim 23 comprising:-

means for adjusting the angle of orientation of said top saidresiliently compressible spacers insuring a secure fit between saidcomponent and said top regardless of the angle of orientation of saidtop.

1. An article of furniture such as a desk, credenza or the likecomprising: a top; a top rail positioned underneath said top, generallyat the rear thereof; a component such as a pedestal or the like, saidcomponent including a hanger generally at the rear thereof; securingmeans generally at the front of said top and said component forsupporting said component at the front of said article of furniture;means attached to said top for adjusting the angle of orientation ofsaid top so that it slopes downwardly from rear to front; a lower raildepending downwardly from said top generally at the rear thereof; saidhanger releasably engaging one of said top rails and said lower railwhereby when said top is oriented generally horizontally, said componentis supported at its rear in said top rail and whereby when said top istilted, said hanger of said component can be removed from said top railand engaged in said lower rail, thereby maintaining said component in agenerally horizontal orientation while said top is tilted.
 2. Thearticle of furniture of claim 1 in which said hanger slidably engageseither of said rails when said component hangs on said rail, tiltedslightly forwardly and downwardly, and can be slid along said rail untilsaid securing means are secured; engageable locking means on each saidrail and on said component, said locking means engaging when the frontof said component is raised up and secured by said securing meanswhereby the rear of said component will be locked against slidingmovement with respect to either of said rails when said securing meansare secured.
 3. The article of furniture of claim 2 in which saidengageable locking means comprises a detent on said hanger and a keeperon each said rail; said detent and said keeper being spaced sufficientlyfar apart that they do not engage when said component is tiltedforwardly and downwardly.
 4. The article of furniture of claim 3 inwhich said detent comprises a tab projecting rearwardly from said hangerand said keeper comprises a slot in each said rail adapted to receivesaid tab.
 5. The article of furniture of claim 4 in which saidsupporting means include fastening means generally at the front of saidcomponent for joining said component to said top and resilientlycompressible spacer means associated with said fastening means to insurea secure fit between said component and said top regardless of the angleof orientation of said top.
 6. The article of furniture of claim 5 inwhich said spacer means comprises at least two spaced resilientlycompressible spacers; said fastening means comprising a separateprogressive tightening fastener associated with each said spacer andsecuring said component to said top, each said fastener beingindividually progressively tightenable whereby said spacers can bedifferentially compressed and said component thereby properly verticallyaligned with respect to adjacent top support means, components or thelike.
 7. The article of furniture of claim 6 in which said progressivetightening fastening means comprise bolts; said spacers comprisingresiliently comPressible washers, said bolts passing through saidcomponents, through said washers and into said top.
 8. The article offurniture of claim 2 in which said rail is generally J-shaped incross-section, having a back wall, a bottom wall and a hook wallprojecting upwardly from said bottom wall; said hanger including arearwardly projecting wall and a downwardly projecting lip for engagingsaid hook wall of said rail when said component is being supported onlyon said rail; said engageable locking means comprising a detentprojecting rearwardly from said hanger beyond said lip toward said backwall of said rail and comprising a keeper on said back wall of said railfor receiving said detent; said detent and said keeper being spacedsufficiently far apart that they do not engage when said component istilted forwardly.
 9. The article of furniture of claim 8 in which saiddetent comprises a tab projecting rearwardly from said hanger and saidkeeper comprises a slot in said back wall of said rail adapted toreceive said tab.
 10. The article of furniture of claim 9 in which saidtab is at least as long as said bottom wall of said rail is deep wherebywhen the front of said component is lifted upwardly for securing to saidtop by said securing means, said tab will definitely be forced into itsreceiving slot.
 11. The article of furniture of claim 8 in which saidsupporting means include fastening means generally at the front of saidcomponent for joining said component to said top and resilientlycompressible spacer means associated with said fastening means to insurea secure fit between said component and said top regardless of the angleof orientation of said top.
 12. The article of furniture of claim 11 inwhich said spacer means comprises at least two spaced resilientlycompressible spacers; said fastening means comprising a separateprogressive tightening fastener means associated with each said spacerand securing said component to said top, each of said fastener beingindividually progressively tightenable whereby said spacers can bedifferentially compressed and said component thereby properly verticallyaligned with respect to adjacent top support means, components or thelike.
 13. The article of furniture of claim 1 in which said supportingmeans include fastening means generally at the front of said componentfor joining said component to said top and resiliently compressiblespacer means associated with said fastening means to insure a secure fitbetween said component and said top regardless of the angle oforientation of said top.
 14. The article of furniture of claim 13 inwhich said spacer means comprises at least two spaced resilientlycompressible spacers; said fastening means comprising a separateprogressive tightening fastener associated with each said spacer andsecuring said component to said top, each said fastener beingindividually progressively tightenable whereby said spacers can bedifferentially compressed and said component thereby properly verticallyaligned with respect to adjacent top support means, components or thelike.
 15. The article of furniture of claim 14 in which said progressivetightening fastening means comprise bolts; said spacers comprisingresiliently compressible washers, said bolts passing through saidcomponents, through said washers and into said top.
 16. The article offurniture of claim 1 in which said lower rail is not parallel to saidtop rail but is oriented at an angle such that said lower rail isgenerally horizontally oriented when said top is adjusted to slopedownwardly from rear to front.
 17. An article of furniture such as adesk, credenza or the like comprising: a top; a rail positionedunderneath said top generally at the rear thereof; a component such as apedestal or the like, said component including a hanger slidablyengaging said rail when said component hangs on said rail tiltedslightly forwardly and downwardly; securing means generally at the frontof said top and said componeNt for supporting said component at thefront of said article of furniture, said component being orientedgenerally horizontally when said securing means is secured; engageablelocking means on said rail and on said component, said locking meansengaging when the front of said component is raised up and secured bysaid securing means to said top, whereby the rear of said component islocked against sliding movement with respect to said rail and saidlocking means being configured to disengage when said component hangs onsaid rail tilted slightly forwardly and downwardly whereby saidcomponent can be slid along said rail.
 18. The article of furniture ofclaim 17 in which said engageable locking means comprises a detent onsaid hanger and a keeper on each said rail; said detent and said keeperbeing spaced sufficiently far apart that they do not engage when saidcomponent is tilted forwardly and downwardly.
 19. The article offurniture of claim 18 in which said detent comprises a tab projectingrearwardly from said hanger and said keeper comprises a slot in eachsaid rail adapted to receive said tab.
 20. The article of furniture ofclaim 17 in which said rail is generally J-shaped in cross-section,having a back wall, a bottom wall and a hook wall projecting upwardlyfrom said bottom wall; said hanger including a rearwardly projectingwall and a downwardly projecting lip for engaging said hook wall of saidrail when said component is being supported only on said rail; saidengageable locking means comprising a detent projecting rearwardly fromsaid hanger beyond said lip towards said back wall of said rail andcomprising a keeper on said back wall of said rail for receiving saiddetent; said detent and said keeper being spaced sufficiently far apartthat they do not engage when said component is tilted forwardly anddownwardly.
 21. The article of furniture of claim 20 in which saiddetent comprises a tab projecting rearwardly from said hanger and saidkeeper comprises a slot in said back wall of said rail adapted toreceive said tab.
 22. The article of furniture of claim 21 in which saidtab is at least as long as said bottom wall of said rail is deep wherebywhen the front of said component is lifted upwardly for securing to saidtop by said securing means, said tab will definitely be forced into itsreceiving slot.
 23. An article of furniture such as a desk, credenza orthe like comprising: a top; top supporting means; a component such as apedestal or the like suspended from said top; at least two spacedresiliently compressible spacers positioned generally at the front ofsaid component, between said component and said top; a separateprogressive tightening fastener operably associated with each saidspacer and extending from said component to said top to secure saidcomponent to said top, each said fastener being individuallyprogressively tightenable in securing said component to said top wherebysaid spacers can be differentially compressed and said componentsthereby properly vertically aligned with respect to adjacent topsupporting means, components or the like.
 24. The article of furnitureof claim 23 in which said fasteners each comprise a threaded bolt and inwhich each said resiliently compressible spacer is a resilientlycompressible washer having an aperture therethrough, said bolts passingthrough said component, through said washers and into said top.
 25. Thearticle of furniture of claim 23 comprising: means for adjusting theangle of orientation of said top said resiliently compressible spacersinsuring a secure fit between said component and said top regardless ofthe angle of orientation of said top.